Connexins and lens biology

Collective cancer cell calcium activity drives brain metastasis

The paper shows brain metastases form gap-junction-coupled networks with coordinated calcium activity that drives proliferation and is inhibited by gap junction blockers.

In situ Structure of the Human Gap Junction

The paper determines the in situ structure of human Cx43 gap junction plaques using cryogenic electron tomography, revealing the role of the C-terminal domain in plaque assembly.

Long-term editing of brain circuits in mice using an engineered electrical synapse

The paper engineers an electrical synapse in mice using fish connexins to modulate neural circuits and behavior.

Membrane voltage multistability in coupled glial cells

This study presents a novel biophysical model of coupled astrocytes to explore how nonlinearities in membrane and junctional conductances affect voltage stability and transitions in glial networks.

Gating Mechanism of the Human Connexin 45 Gap Junction Channel

This study determines the structural basis of Cx45 gating and Ca2+ regulation using cryo-EM, revealing a dual steric-electrostatic mechanism.

Dissecting Gap Junctional and Ephaptic Contributions to Electrical Conduction in a Novel Cardiomyocyte Pair Model

This paper develops a novel cardiomyocyte pair model to quantify gap junction and ephaptic contributions to electrical conduction, showing that ephaptic mechanisms dominate at physiological sodium levels.

Developmental Elimination of Electrical Synapses by UNC-51/UNC-76-Mediated Vesicular Transport

This study identifies UNC-51/UNC-76-mediated vesicular transport as essential for eliminating transient electrical synapses during neural circuit maturation in C. elegans.

Simultaneous whole-cell recording and calcium imaging to reveal electrically coupled neurons in Xenopus tadpoles

The paper investigates using Ca2+ imaging to detect gap junctional coupling in Xenopus tadpole neurons but finds it ineffective due to rapid Ca2+ clearance and membrane resealing.

Mitochondria Organize Gap Junctions to Enable Neural Circuit Scaling

The paper shows mitochondria organize gap junctions during neural circuit growth by positioning mitochondria to recruit microtubule components, enabling coordinated neurite redistribution and electrical transmission.

All-optical analysis of electrical coupling in muscle ensembles reveals contributions of individual innexins to cell synchronizationand locomotion

The paper uses all-optical methods to study gap junction coupling in C. elegans muscle cells, showing how specific innexins affect synchronization and locomotion.

Structure of Connexin26 from Lepidosiren paradoxa

The paper solves the structure of Connexin26 from Lepidosiren paradoxa at high CO2 levels, revealing an open conformation stabilized by detergent binding between TM3 and TM4.

Intercellular Communication via Mitotic Nanotubes is Influenced by Connexin-43 Trafficking and Actin Remodeling

This study shows that mitotic nanotubes, influenced by Cx43 trafficking and actin remodeling, enable reduced gap junction communication during cell division.

Connexins are essential for the contribution of latent progenitors to healing after spinal cord injury

This study shows that connexins Cx26 and Cx43 are critical for ependymal cell response to spinal cord injury, with Cx26 affecting proliferation and healing, and Cx43 mediating calcium signaling.

Reversible lipid mediated pH-gating of connexin-46/50 by cryo-EM

This study uses cryo-EM to reveal how lipid-mediated pH changes gate connexin-46/50 gap junctions, showing reversible structural transitions under acidic conditions.

Coincidence detection supported by electrical synapses is shaped by the D-type K+ current

The paper investigates how the D-type K+ current shapes coincidence detection in electrically coupled neurons of the MesV nucleus, enhancing temporal precision and reducing gain.

Gap junction communication regulates luminal-myoepithelial crosstalk and cell differentiation in a bi-layered human mammary epithelial cell model

This study develops a bilayered co-culture model of human mammary epithelial cells and shows that gap junction communication is essential for lineage-specific differentiation.

Retinal Cx36 gap junctions in the inner and outer plexiform layers differentially control visual thresholds.

The paper investigates how Cx36 gap junctions in the inner and outer retina affect visual thresholds under dim light using mouse models and behavioral assays, finding distinct roles in threshold control.

Controllable Gap Junctions by Vitamin B12 and Light

This paper introduces CarGAP, a chemo-optogenetic tool to reversibly control gap junctions in vertebrates and invertebrates with spatiotemporal precision.

Lipid dependence of connexin-32 gap junction channel conformations

The paper determines the cryo-EM structures of Cx32 gap junction channels reconstituted in nanodiscs, showing that phospholipids block the pore by binding to the N-terminal gating helix, contingent on sterol presence.

Astrocyte gap junctions and Kir channels contribute to K+ buffering and regulate neuronal excitability

This study investigates the role of astrocyte gap junctions and Kir channels in K+ buffering and neuronal excitability by blocking these mechanisms in cortical slices.

In situ structure of a gap junction - stomatin complex

The paper identifies in situ structures of gap junctions in C. elegans using cryo-electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging, revealing a cytosolic cap formed by the stomatin UNC-1 protein.

Molecular determinants of low affinity complexes formed by the electrical synapse proteins Connexin36 (Cx36) and ZO-1

This study identifies molecular determinants of weak PDZ1/Cx36 interactions, showing that specific residues and phosphorylation regulate electrical synapse stability.

The mechanisms of permselectivity of connexin hemichannels to small molecules

This study investigates permselectivity of connexin hemichannels for small molecules, finding that selectivity varies among connexins and is influenced by factors beyond molecular size.

Injury Induced Connexin 43 Expression Regulates Endothelial Wound Healing

This study shows that injury-induced Cx43 upregulation in endothelial cells promotes wound healing through gap junction-mediated communication, with phosphorylation playing a key role.

Spatial Expression Pattern and Cellular Organisation of Gap Junctions in Third Instar Wing Imaginal Discs of Drosophila melanogaster

This study examines the spatial expression and cellular organisation of innexin gap junction proteins in Drosophila wing imaginal discs, revealing their sub-apical localization and functional roles.

A connexin 43 targeting peptide prevents blood vessel neointima formation

This study identifies a Cx43 targeting peptide that inhibits neointima formation in both human and mouse models by blocking cyclin E interactions and cell cycle progression.

Molecular Configuration, Regulation and Function of Heterochannel Electrical Synapses

The paper identifies a novel type of electrical synapse in C. elegans and zebrafish, called heterochannel synapses, formed by multiple innexin proteins and regulated by specific kinesins.

Structure and Function of Lens Suture Examined by 2-photon Fluorescence Microscopic Imaging

This study uses 2-photon fluorescence microscopy to examine lens suture structures in wildtype and KLPH-KO mice, revealing altered suture patterns and pathological features in the knockout model.

Connexin 43 drives glioblastoma cancer stem cell phenotypes through a WNK lysine-deficient protein kinase 1-c-MYC signaling axis

This study shows that Cx43 promotes glioblastoma cancer stem cell survival and self-renewal via a WNK1-c-MYC signaling pathway.

Astrocytes connect specific brain regions through plastic gap junctional networks

The paper shows astrocyte gap junction networks selectively connect specific brain regions and reorganize after sensory deprivation in mice.